China mobile Zong wins Pakistan's 3G, 4G spectrum

ISLAMABAD, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan raised 1.1 billion U.S. dollars in its first auction for 3G and 4G mobile phone networks on Wednesday and China Mobile Pakistan, or Zong, emerged the sole winner of Pakistan 4G spectrum license and one of four winners of the country's 3G spectrum licenses.

The auction was held at a local hotel in the presence of the international and local media people and hundreds of the representatives of mobile companies. Zong was declared successful of getting the licenses for 10 MHz spectrum in 2100 MHz radio frequency band in the auction conducted by the state-owned Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

Zong has also got 10 MHs segment in 1800 MHz frequency. The company bid a total of 516 million U.S. dollars for the 3G and 4G spectrum licenses.

Besides Zong, Russian-owned Mobilink, Norway's Telenor, and Ufone -- a company jointly owned by the Pakistan government and the United Arab Emirates' Etisalat also won the 3G licenses.